Notes for Lucy Booth * Collinson: As a child, they had a horse and buggy. The horse's name was Dolly, and was a good friend of Lucy. Dolly went with them on transfers. Dolly was put in baggage car hooked to buggy, and Lucy rode with Dolly in the baggage car.
Lucy's mother's half sisters were Nettie and Margaret Ramsey. They lived in Wisconsin on a farm. Lucy went to visit them. ______________________________________________________________________ Valedictorian Address May 13, 1899 Ball High School, Galveston, Texas The Spirit of the Nineteenth Century by Lucy Booth Collinson
The spirit of the century, preeminently a spirit of progress, is manifested in the numerous inventions, in the wonderful advance in science and the practical arts. This is emphatically a material age; everything relates to material growth and material comfort. The telegraph, the telephone, the improved methods of travel, the labor saving devices, all help to increase materialistic tendencies. The object of men is material wealth. "What is it worth? How will it advance our interests?" are the questions which men first consider.
Why have we no masters in literature and in art? Time for meditation and thought with a single aim in view is necessary in order that a man may develop what is greatest and best in him. The busy and bustle of our lives prevent this. Have we a name which could be enrolled among the great and noble of past generations?
This is a commercial age. Man's chief aim in Life is to amass enormous wealth. "Gain, gain," is the cry of all, and gain for what? What benefit is bestowed upon the human race by the struggle for gain? In this struggle, "the greatest good for the greatest number" cannot be regarded. Each man stands for himself alone, and is compelled to do so by the existing state of affairs, for his footing once lost, in vain would he struggle against the current.
In literature, how much is sacrificed to this desire for wealth! A writer provides a work which wins for him distinction. Then his reputation once established, he stoops to take advantage of it by signing his name to productions utterly unworthy of his genius and thus sells all his birthright for a mess of pottage.
Selfishness and greed are natural results of these existing conditions. Indomitable will, energy and disregard of the principles held by our fathers are necessary to reach that state which the world terms successful.
This state of affairs is due in great measure to the disregard of the aesthetic. More time should be devoted to the study of the great masters. No man is truly educated until he is able to appreciate the beauty of the great poets and dramatists. In the study of art, of literature, and even of higher mathematics, this love of the aesthetic is cultivated. The study of Latin and Greek, which many regard as useless, is invaluable to one who desires to be a cultivated man in the highest sense. A harmonious blending of the material and aesthetic is indispensable to perfect culture.
The materialistic spirit tends to widen the distinction between wealth and poverty, and such a distinction in a republic is the most undesirable of all conditions. Certain combinations of men, blinded by self interest, entirely ignore the welfare of the people. The result of this is not difficult to foresee.
The young men and women of today must remember that the greatness of our country depends not upon material wealth, but upon the virtue, valor and intellectual stamina of its citizens. And as tonight we take our places among the citizens of this country, it shall be our earnest effort to increase this real wealth of the nation.
In thinking of the future, our hearts beat high with hope, but "our sincerest laughter with some pain is fraught" and it is our sad duty tonight to say farewell to the citizens of Galveston and to the trustees who have provided for us such opportunities, to the teachers, who have aided and encouraged us, and to our classmates, who have shared with us the joys and perplexities of school life. Though we thus say good-bye with our lips, we feel in our hearts that the memory of these days will abide with us forever. _____________________________ Note: A year and a half after her graduation from Ball Hight School in Galveston, on September 8, 1900, Galveston was destroyed by a hurricane: "the storm of the century". More than 6000 people lost their lives. By this time, the family had moved away, probably to Cleburne, Texas.
Lucy and Bates enjoyed playing duplicate contract bridge. Belonged to the Ladies Reading Club in Houston, was the oldest living member. Belonged to the Federated Reading Club. Liked to sit on the front porch at 5509 La Branch Street in the evenings and rock in the rocking chair. Had very long hair, which she washed only in rain water collected in a barrel. She always wore it in a bun. She brushed her hair 100 strokes every night. Lived in Clarewood House independent living facility in Houston with Bates for about 10 years. After Bates died, this was the first time she had ever been alone, and she had to live in the nursing center of Clarewood House so she could have company.
More About Lucy Booth * Collinson: Burial: Unknown, Buried at Glenwood Cemetery, Washington Ave. Houston, TX. Comment 1: 1919, Lived 2205 Crawford St Houston at Jim's birth. Comment 2: Lived in Raton NM as child near RR roundhouse. Comment 3: Met Bates in Cleburne TX. Education: 1899, Galveston Ball High School, Valedictorian. Ethnicity/Relig.: Episcopalian. Event 2: Abt. 1901, Knox College finishing school, Iowa. Occupation: Lifetime member of Ladies Reading Club. Personality/Intrst: Reading, Bridge, Agatha Christie mystery novels. Residence: 5509 La Branch Street, Houston, TX.
More About Lucy Booth * Collinson and Bates McFarland * Allen: Marriage: 09 Apr 1902, Topeka, Kansas. Marriage contract: Form of Solemnization of Matrimony of the Protestant Episcopal Church, by Rev. Wm. K. Berry, DD, Rector of Hope Church, Fort Madison, Iowa.
Children of Lucy Booth * Collinson and Bates McFarland * Allen are:
+Janet Garner Allen, b. 19 Oct 1904, Texarkana, Texas, d. 23 Dec 1991, Denver, Colorado.
Lucy Booth * Collinson (b. 26 Oct 1880, d. 27 Jan 1974)
Notes for Lucy Booth * Collinson: